Onlookers were dazzled once again by a Twilight Spectacle performance in Chelmsford on Saturday night.
The event, held to celebrate Chelmsford's city status, saw Wharf Road car park transformed into an outdoor theatre. See pictures from the event here
A memorable show was put on by a group of circus performers, singers and musicians from the Viola Project Company.
The act is part of the City Diversions Festival and followed a similar performance last weekend in South Woodham Ferrers involving a French group of street performers and aerialists.
As darkness descended, colourful stilt walkers - lit up with tiny fairy lights and carrying giant feathers - mingled with the crowd.
Just after 9pm the show was introduced by Sadie Nine from BBC Essex.
Thousands of awestruck onlookers gazed up at the stage as the performers were suspended in the night sky. Families and people of all ages were transfixed during the hour long spectacle.
A brilliant display of acrobatics, dancing, singing and music kept the crowd's concentration as female and male performers twirled and twisted high above the ground.
Children shrieked in delight as glitter was scattered from twirling umbrellas and into the crowd below.
Organised and funded by Chelmsford City Council, the free event was sponsored by The Printing Place, High Chelmer shopping centre, Essex and Suffolk Water, BBC Essex and the Essex Chronicle.
Anna Yates, events manager at Chelmsford City Council, said: "We wanted to do a larger scale show and the Twilight Spectacle celebrates Chelmsford getting city status.
"It's the year anniversary since we were announced as the Queen's Jubilee City and it is part of the City Diversions Festival.
"We wanted to bring these European groups to Chelmsford – you expect to have to go further afield for this sort of thing so it's really special."
